The Auburn boys basketball team has been on a roll throughout this season, going 15-4 before the team's final regular season game at Fayetteville-Manlius Friday night.
Since Al Giannone took over as head coach six years ago, the team has made the postseason consecutively for the last five seasons, with continuous improvement in the team each year.
“Every year we really just try to keep getting better as a team,” Giannone said. “That has always been our goal and I think this year we have been able to do that.”
The team's record is a definite improvement over last year's 12-8, Giannone said.
But Giannone said that success for Auburn has not started strictly at the varsity level.
“It is our whole program,” Giannone said. “We have great JV coaches and volunteers that have really worked well with the kids and that has worked its way up since they were younger to now on the varsity team.”
With four seniors and a good mix of younger players, the Maroons team chemistry has been undeniable this year.
“We have youth,” Giannone said. “And we have senior leadership. It is a good mix we have on this team. These guys have done a lot together, a lot of off season stuff, summer leagues and open gyms and things like that, that I think have been contributing to our success.”
One of the keys this year has been Auburn's defensive efforts.
“We have become a really good team on defense,” Giannone said. “That has been huge for us and in turn has allowed us to become a good offensive team.”
Giannone also points to the versatility of the team this season, by saying that a lot of players have stepped up to contribute to the overall success of the team and that players have been willing to do whatever has been necessary for the good of the team.
“Everybody really believes in the team concept,” Giannone said. “That has helped a lot; everybody is putting the team first and doing what needs to be done.”
Players like Dave Foltz, who for the past two seasons had been the team's leading point scorer, has switched over to point-guard this season.
“He is a good example of putting personal goals aside,” Giannone said. “After leading us in point for two years he is now focusing on distributing the ball and he is doing it well.”
And he is still putting in a strong performance at the net. Foltz has averaged 11.7 points, 6.5 assists and 2.8 steals per game this season.
Other players like Jimmy Pitts (13.4 points, 10.9 rebounds per game), Damien Whitaker (17.8 points, 8.9 rebounds), have also put in great performances.
Coming down the last stretch of the regular season, Giannone and the team have their sites set on a couple of important goals. Throughout the season, Auburn has been neck in neck with Nottingham for the division title, a title Giannone hopes to bring home.
“It has been exciting,” Giannone said. “Neither team has given up an inch all season. Winning these next few games could get us the title or at least keep us tied for it.”
Auburn is also vying for a home game in the upcoming Section III seeding.
Giannone said that in all five post seasons runs he has made with the team they have not received a home spot.
“That would be huge for us,” Giannone said. “We'd be playing in our own place and it is always harder for a
team to play on the road. It is a real mindset thing. But we're just going to take things one game at a time and keep playing like we have been. For the last month we've played every game like it was a play-off game and that is what we are going to keep doing. We hold our future in our own hands.”
“Every year we really just try to keep getting better as a team,” Giannone said. “That has always been our goal and I think this year we have been able to do that.”
The team's record is a definite improvement over last year's 12-8, Giannone said.
But Giannone said that success for Auburn has not started strictly at the varsity level.
“It is our whole program,” Giannone said. “We have great JV coaches and volunteers that have really worked well with the kids and that has worked its way up since they were younger to now on the varsity team.”
With four seniors and a good mix of younger players, the Maroons team chemistry has been undeniable this year.
“We have youth,” Giannone said. “And we have senior leadership. It is a good mix we have on this team. These guys have done a lot together, a lot of off season stuff, summer leagues and open gyms and things like that, that I think have been contributing to our success.”
One of the keys this year has been Auburn's defensive efforts.
“We have become a really good team on defense,” Giannone said. “That has been huge for us and in turn has allowed us to become a good offensive team.”
Giannone also points to the versatility of the team this season, by saying that a lot of players have stepped up to contribute to the overall success of the team and that players have been willing to do whatever has been necessary for the good of the team.
“Everybody really believes in the team concept,” Giannone said. “That has helped a lot; everybody is putting the team first and doing what needs to be done.”
Players like Dave Foltz, who for the past two seasons had been the team's leading point scorer, has switched over to point-guard this season.
“He is a good example of putting personal goals aside,” Giannone said. “After leading us in point for two years he is now focusing on distributing the ball and he is doing it well.”
And he is still putting in a strong performance at the net. Foltz has averaged 11.7 points, 6.5 assists and 2.8 steals per game this season.
Other players like Jimmy Pitts (13.4 points, 10.9 rebounds per game), Damien Whitaker (17.8 points, 8.9 rebounds), have also put in great performances.
Coming down the last stretch of the regular season, Giannone and the team have their sites set on a couple of important goals. Throughout the season, Auburn has been neck in neck with Nottingham for the division title, a title Giannone hopes to bring home.
“It has been exciting,” Giannone said. “Neither team has given up an inch all season. Winning these next few games could get us the title or at least keep us tied for it.”
Auburn is also vying for a home game in the upcoming Section III seeding.
Giannone said that in all five post seasons runs he has made with the team they have not received a home spot.
“That would be huge for us,” Giannone said. “We'd be playing in our own place and it is always harder for a
team to play on the road. It is a real mindset thing. But we're just going to take things one game at a time and keep playing like we have been. For the last month we've played every game like it was a play-off game and that is what we are going to keep doing. We hold our future in our own hands.”